Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association (UWIMAA)

The University of the West Indies Medical Alumni Association (UWIMAA) is the global alumni association for medical graduates of The University of the West Indies. Established in 1988, it brings together regional and international chapters to support the Faculties of Medical Sciences and their graduates, with a strong emphasis on giving back through financial assistance and professional support. The association works from The UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica and acts as a liaison among chapters and the university leadership.

UWIMAA channels philanthropic contributions from alumni, friends, and partner organisations into structured funding streams. A central instrument is the UWIMAA Endowment, designed to reach US$1.5 million. This endowment is explicitly intended to fund student scholarships and provide developmental aid to the Faculties of Medical Sciences, and is administered through established university mechanisms for managing endowments. In addition to scholarships, UWIMAA supports the acquisition and distribution of equipment and materials and contributes to research support in medical and health-related fields.

The association focuses its financial support on several priority areas: direct scholarships and bursaries for medical students facing financial hardship, developmental initiatives within the medical faculties, and broader projects that enhance the quality of medical education and care in the Caribbean. Communications on the site highlight hundreds of scholarships awarded, tens of thousands of students helped, and over US$1.7 million raised, demonstrating an ongoing portfolio of aid rather than one-off gifts.

Funds raised also underpin mentorship and training opportunities by helping to introduce new knowledge, support training in emerging areas of health, and encourage resource development and exchange between alumni and current students. Through these investments, UWIMAA aims to secure continuity of high-quality health care in the region by strengthening the pipeline of well-trained physicians and medical professionals.

UWIMAA operates in close collaboration with The UWI’s Institutional Advancement Division, aligning its fundraising and endowment management with university-wide mechanisms. Its secretariat, board of directors and administrative support ensure that donations are channelled towards scholarships, faculty development and research support in a transparent and coordinated manner across campuses and chapters in Barbados, Jamaica, Canada, the United States and beyond.

The primary beneficiaries of UWIMAA’s funding are medical students enrolled at The UWI who require financial support for tuition and living expenses, as well as the Faculties of Medical Sciences that depend on external resources for equipment, educational materials and program development. By mobilising alumni philanthropy and administering an endowment dedicated to medical sciences, the association plays a key role in expanding access to medical education and improving health outcomes for communities across the Caribbean.